Side-delivery conveyer.



R. L. DRAKE.

SIDE DELIVERY CONVEYER.

APPLICATIOR HLED. mm: 23. 1913.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FIG 1.

WITNESSES: lNI/ENTUR R. L. DRAKE.

SIDE DELIVERY CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED lUNEZS, 1913.

Patented $2111.18 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. LIDRAKE.

SIDE DELIVERY CONVEYER.

APPLICATION man WM 23, 1913.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

earns a ROLLER L. DRAKE, 0F TORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF TES.

SIDE-DELIVERY convnvnu.

To. all whom it may concern:

EBe it known that 1, Roman L. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Arthur, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use-v ful Improvements in Side-Delivery Conveyers, of which the following is a specificatipn.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in side delivery conveyers.

The object of the invention is to prov de a conveyer of the character described which is specially adapted to convey boxes and packages any distance desired and discharge them at any point desired. In handling heavy boxes and the like, particularly where they are handled in large quantities and packed or stored in a wareroom, it becomes necessary to change the point of discharge as the room is filled, and it is the object of this invention to provide a conveyer having a discharge that may be easily shifted to any desired place. In devices of this character now in common use, stationary side guards are commonly used between which the boxes or packages are conveyed over a track or way, and consequently they must be elevated over one of said side guards in order to be discharged from the conveyer. The means usually provided for elevating the boxes or packages over the side guards and delivering them from the conveyer, are cumbersome and expensive and difiicult to move when it is desired to change the point of discharge. This conveyer has been devised to obviate the necessity of elevating the boxes or packages over the side guard in order to effect delivery as Well as to provide a light and simple construction whereby the objects being delivered may be discharged at the desired place with ease and despatch.

With the above and other objects in view, theinvention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts. an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation with certain parts broken away of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation thereof shown on a scale considerably larger than that of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an end view of the device, as shown in Fig. 2, parts of Specificatioxfiot Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. is, rare.

Application filed June 2a, 1913. serial no. 775,176.

Referring now more particularly to the v drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numerals 1,1 designate upright supporting columns having the laterally extending brackets 2, 2, said brackets support ing the conveyerand associated parts. Supported by the brackets 2, 2 is a channel iron 3 and on each side thereof are similar channel irons 4, 4, said channels being parallel and extending side by side preferably from end to end of the conveyer. The channel iron 3 forms a track or guideway for an endless sprocket chain. or belt, 5, of any desired construction, which is supported by idler sprocket wheels 6 arranged at suitable in tervals along the conveyer, said sprocket chain 5 being driven by any suitable means not shown. The sprocket chain 5 is pro vided with a plurality of projecting spikes or lugs 7, arranged at intervals therealong for the purpose of engaging against the boxes or packages 8. The channel irons 4 have transverse rollers 9, said. rollers being placed close together and forming a way for the boxes 8 along which the boxes or other articles are moved bv the conveyer.

Along one side of the conveyer is a side guard 10 extending from end to end thereof, said guard being preferably, but not necessarily stationary, for a purpose to be hereina fter set forth.

The numerals 11 and 12. designate, respectively. inverted substantially U-shaped arch or bridge members arranged at a suitable distance apart lengthwise of the conveyer and fixed in their position relative to each other by the side bars 13 and 14 and the top bar 15, the said U-shaped members being riveted to said bars, and a structure in the nature of a cage being thus formed. The lower or free ends of the U-shaped members 11 and 12' are supported by side rails 16 and 17, mounted upon the supporting braces 2 and on each side of the channel irons 3, 4, 4, and the conveyer proper. The members 11 and 12 have running wheels 18 and 19 which move on said side rails 16 and 17. The side bar 14 is arranged beneath the level of the bar 14, has a deflector 20 fixed to the rear leg 4 of the member 12, the forward, or free end of said deflector being curved across the conveyer'so as to deflect the boxes from the conveyer through the open side of the cage over the side brace-14.

Secured to thefront leg of the member 12 and opposing the deflector 20'is a guard 21, curved outwardly, which together with the deflector 20 guides the boxes from the'conveyer into the discharge chute, which will now be described. This chute has a suitable bottom 22 provided with transversely arranged anti-frictionv rollers 23 and side guards 24 and 25, and leads from the discharge side of the cage down to the floor upon which'the boxes are to be delivered to be packed, The upper end of the, chute 1s flared or widened so as to easily receive the boxes and secured thereto underneath is a transverse shaft 26 whose ends are rotatable in the bearings 27, 27 suspended from the brace 14 to provide a hinge connection between the chute and cage.

Attached to the member 11 is one end of a sideguard member, preferably flexible and in the formof a cable 28, which passes around the pulleys 29, 29, arranged at each end of the conveyer, and whose other end is attached to the member 12. This cable is arranged on the side of the conveyer opposite the side guard 10 and in itself forms a movable side guard, and the boxes to be delivered pass in between the side guard 10 and cable 28 and by them are held in position on the conveyer until the point of discharge is reached. The cable 28 also passes over and is supported by idler pulleys 30, 30 suitably positioned upon the sides of the members 11 and 12.

The boxes or packages to'be delivered are first placed on the conveyer and as the chain or belt 5 is in constant motion, it is obvious that the lugs 7, projecting upwardly from the conveyer, will engage the boxes or packages and drive them along the supporting way constituted by the channel irons 4, 4

- and rollers 9 'journaled in said channel irons.

When the point of discharge is reached, the boxes will be driven by the conveyer between the deflector 20 and the guard 21 which will operate to deflect the boxes laterally through i the open side of the cage and direct them into the discharge chute or other conveyer or receptacle. This chute has a downward inclination and its bottom being provided with anti-friction rollers the boxes or packages will be carried down the chute onto the floor or other point by the force of gravity. When it is desired to change the point of delivery the chute and cage to which it 'is connected may be manually moved along the conveyer,

the wheels 18 and 19 moving along their supporting tracks 16 and 17, and the cable 28 operating on its pulleys 29 and 30. It is thus obvious that the articles to be delivered will be readily discharged from the conveyer without the necessity of elevating them over the side guards by which they are kept in position on the conveyer, and no force will be wasted by this unnecessary elevation, and it is further apparent that the articles may be delivered at any place desired along the side of the conveyer and the change in place of delivery quickly and easily made.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letlengthwise of the'way to locate said open section at diflerent points along the way.

2. In combination, a movable conveyer for conveying articles, a way along which said conveyer travels, a side guard along one side of said way and independent of the conveyer, a movable side guard along the otherside of said way and independent of the conveyer, said movable side guard having an open section for passage of articles from the conveyer and said way.

3. In combination, a conveyer-for conveying articles, a side guard along one side of said conveyer and independent, thereof, a movable side guard along the other side of said conveyer and independent thereof, said movable 'side guard having an open section for passage of articles from said conveyer and means for automatically ejecting articles through the open section of the movable side guard. v

4. A conveying means comprising a way for conveying articles, an article conveying mechanism movable lengthwise of. said way, a guard along one side of the way and independent of the conveyer, a cage member movable lengthwise of the way independleys for the same. and an open sided cage connected to said member, and movable lengthwise of the conveying mechanism.

6. In combination, a conveying mechanism, and a side guard for said mechanism consisting of a flexible member, guide pulleys for the same, an open sided cage conmesses nected to said member, and movable length- Kid wise of the conveying mechanism and means carried by the cage for ejecting articles through the open side thereof.

7. In combination, a conveying mechanism, and a side guard for said mechanism consisting of a flexible member, guide pulleys for the same, anopen sided cage connected to said member, and movable lengthwise of the-conveying mechanism and means for ejecting articles through the open side of the cage from the conveying mechanism.

8. In combination, a way, a conveying mechanism for moving articles along said way, a cage movable lengthwise of theway,

and having an opening for passage of articles from said Way and a side guard for said way consisting of a' flexible member passed around pulleys along the way and having its ends spaced apart and connected to the cage on opposite sides of the said opening. 7

9, In combination, a conveying means for conveying articles, a structure movable along the said conveying means and having a space for passage of articles laterally from the said means, and side guard means connected to said structure on opposite sides of the said space and extending lengthwise of the conveying means.

10. In combination, means for conveying articles, tracks on opposite sides of said means, a cage bridging the said means and movable along said tracks, said cage having an open space for passage of articles laterally from said means, side guard means connected to said cage and movable therewith, and means carried by the cage for deflecting through its open space articles from the conveying means.

11. In combination, a conveyer by which articles may be conveyed, a side guard along one side of said conveyor and independent thereof, a movable side guard along the other side of said conveyer and independent thereof, said movable side guard being movable longitudinally relative to the conveyer and having an open section through which the articles may pass, and a delivery chute alined with said open section for conveying the articles from said conveyer.

12. In combination, a way along which articles may be conveyed, means movable along the way and engaging with the articles conveyed and causing them to move therealong, a side guard along one side of the way and independent ofsaid means, a movable side guard along the other side of said means and independent thereof, said movable guard being movable longitudinally of the way relative to said means and having an open section through which the articles may pass, a delivery chute alined with said open section, and a deflector arranged across the way and disposed to deanism movable along theway and adapted to convey articles therealong, side guards along each side of said way and-independent of said conveying means, one of said side guards having an :open section providing a side delivery exit for the articles from the Way, means whereby said open section is movable longitudinally of the way, a delivery chute alined with said open section for receiving the articles when delivered through the open section, and a deflector arranged across the Way for deflecting the articles from the way and delivering them to said chute.

14. In combination, a way for conveying boxes and such articles, a conveying. mechanism movable lengthwise along said way, a guard along one side. of said way, a cage mounted upon the way and movable therealong, one side of said cage being open, a cable whose free ends are attached to the open side of said cage at each end and which passes over end pulleys at the respective ends of the way, said cable being arranged on the side of the way opposite the stationary guard, and forming a movable guard between which and said stationary guard said boxes ass along said way, a deflector carried by t e cage and extending across the way and being arranged to direct said boxes from the track and through the open side of said cage, and a delivery chute hinged to'the cage and alined with the open side thereof.

15. In combination, a way for conveying boxes and such articles, a conveying mechanism movable lengthwise along said way, means carried thereby for engaging with said boxes and moving them along the way, a stationary guard along one side of said way, a cage mounted upon the way, bearing members carried by the cage and supporting the same upon the way, one side of said cage being open, a cable whose free ends are attached to the open side of said cage at each end thereof and which passes over end pulleys at the respective ends of the way, said cable being arranged on the side of the way opposite the stationary guard and forming a movable guard to prevent the displacement of the boxes from the way, a deflector carried by the cage and extend ing across the way and being arranged to direct the boxes from the way and through the open side of said cage, and a delivery chute alined with the open side of the cage and arranged to receive the articles delivered therethrough.

16. A conveying means comprising a way along which articles may be conveyed, a conveyor for conveying articles along the articles may be conveyed, a conveying mech 1 1,168,865 y j i A) way, and a side guard along one side of the name to this specification in the presence Way and ingependent oi; tliie convgyer, said of two subscribing witnesses.

side guard elng movab e ongitu mally 0 the conveyer and way and having means to 4 N D permit discharge of articles from any point Witnesses:

along said way. T. W. PRESTON, In testimony whereof I have signed'my 'C. .GATES. 

